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Monday, April 11, 2016

Village of Bellevue Awarded Tree City USA for 2015

Bellevue was recently named a 2015 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. The community also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care. This is only the 3rd time Bellevue has received the Tree City USA Growth Award; prior awards were in 2009 and 2011.

Bellevue received Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, and annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capital and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters.
"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," said Dan Lambe, President of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education." Tree provide multiple benefits to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits. More information on the Tree City USA program can be found on at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.